Dean Ashton is an £8million target for Sunderland boss Roy Keane - with West Ham willing to listen to offers for the striker.

And Keano wants winger Damien Duff to provide Ashton with the ammunition.

Keane is determined to spend big on improving the quality of his squad this summer and has identified Ashton and Duff as his leading targets.

Ashton was a £7.25m clubrecord signing from Norwich in 2006 but his Hammers career has been hampered by injuries.

West Ham boss Alan Curbishley has been told to slash his wage bill by chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson and Ashton is one of the players he is willing to sacrifice.

The emergence of teenager Freddie Sears has convinced Curbishley he could cash in on Ashton, with fellow striker Bobby Zamora also on the way out.

Ashton, 24, was wanted by Newcastle under the club's previous managers Sam Allardyce and Glenn Roeder, but Kevin Keegan is now happy with his strikeforce, leaving Sunderland in the box seat to snap up the England hopeful.

After establishing Sunderland in the Premier League this season, Keane has been assured that he will have around £40m to spend in the transfer market this summer.

Boss Keane hopes to take compatriot Duff to the Stadium of Light from arch-rivals Newcastle.

The Duffer has had a good run in the side under Keegan but has never recaptured the sizzling form he showed at Stamford Bridge.

But Keane believes he can coax the 29-year-old back to his past levels and is ready with a bid of around £4m.

Meanwhile, West Ham and Sunderland are battling it out to sign Xisco from Deportivo La Coruna. The striker is valued at £10m but the club do not want to sell.